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| América Mineiro | |
|---|---|
| Clubname | América Mineiro |
| Fullname | América Futebol Clube (Belo Horizonte) |
| Nickname | Coelho |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Ground | Independência |
| Capacity | 23,000 |
| Chairman | Marcus Salum |
| Manager | Vagner Mancini |
| League | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
América Mineiro América Futebol Clube (Belo Horizonte), commonly known by its nickname, is a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Founded in 1912, the club competes in national competitions such as the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and in state competitions such as the Campeonato Mineiro. Historically influential in regional football, the club has produced notable players and contributed to rivalries involving Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro.
The club was established in 1912 amid the rise of organized football in Brazil and Minas Gerais alongside contemporaries like Atlético Mineiro (1908) and Cruzeiro (formerly Palestra Itália). Early decades saw participation in the nascent Campeonato Mineiro with players who later appeared for Seleção Brasileira and clubs such as Flamengo, Fluminense, and São Paulo FC. The 1960s and 1970s brought appearances in national tournaments like the Taça Brasil and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, featuring matches against giants such as Santos FC and Grêmio. Economic and structural challenges in the 1980s and 1990s led to fluctuating fortunes, including relegations and promotions involving the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B and the Copa do Brasil. The 21st century saw consolidation with a return to top-flight competition, highlighted by campaigns that intersected with clubs like Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Corinthians, and Palmeiras, and by leadership figures connected to the broader landscape of Brazilian football governance.
The club plays home matches at the Estádio Independência (also known as Estádio Raimundo Sampaio), located in the Horto neighborhood of Belo Horizonte. The venue has hosted international fixtures involving Brazil national football team selections, and derby matches against Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro. For larger fixtures, the club has occasionally utilized the Mineirão (Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto), a landmark stadium used for FIFA World Cup matches and Copa Libertadores encounters. Stadium improvements have been influenced by municipal and state regulations from Minas Gerais state government and by safety directives similar to those implemented after events at venues like Maracanã.
Supporters identify with local traditions of Belo Horizonte and regional identity within Minas Gerais. Fan groups have organized chants and tifos referencing figures tied to the club and city, and they have engaged in rivalries with Atlético Mineiro (the clássico conhecido as the "Clássico das Multidões") and with Cruzeiro in matches that mirror historical tensions across Campeonato Mineiro seasons. Supporter culture overlaps with broader Brazilian phenomena seen with fans of Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Botafogo, and Palmeiras, including travel to away fixtures and participation in social projects in partnership with municipal initiatives and NGOs.
The squad has historically included players who later moved to clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Chelsea FC. Notable alumni have appeared for Seleção Brasileira and in tournaments like the Copa América and the FIFA World Cup. Coaching staff have included managers experienced in national competitions who worked previously at clubs like Santos FC, São Paulo FC, Grêmio, and Fluminense. The technical committee often liaises with agents and scouting networks connected to leagues such as Campeonato Paulista and Campeonato Carioca.
The club's honours include multiple Campeonato Mineiro titles, along with competitive campaigns in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B and notable runs in the Copa do Brasil. Season records feature top scorers who competed for national scoring titles and transfers to international markets including La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League. The club's milestones are recorded alongside tournaments like the Copa Libertadores qualifying competitions and regional cups contested in South America.
The academy has produced talents who progressed to senior squads and transfers to clubs such as Grêmio, Palmeiras, Flamengo, Sporting CP, and Benfica. Youth teams compete in national youth leagues and tournaments that include fixtures against academies from Santos FC and São Paulo FC, and operate training programs inspired by models from Europe and South American clubs. Partnerships with local schools and sports institutes in Belo Horizonte and with federations like the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol support player development pathways.
The club's identity is tied to symbols of Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais, with green and white colors reflecting historical choices made at foundation. The crest has undergone redesigns that reference dates, monograms, and heraldic elements similar to other Brazilian clubs such as Fluminense and Vasco da Gama. Nicknames and mascots are prominent in merchandising, matchday branding, and in collaborations with cultural institutions and media groups across Brazil.
Category:Football clubs in Minas Gerais